Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Surgeon's expectations



Recommended Posts

I met with my surgeon yesterday and his expectation for me was less than I had anticipated. I am 5'4" and 239. He said 18 months out he would like to see me at 160 and that was his first goal. I guess I anticipated a short term or more attainable goal like 200 at some point, and that 18-24 months put I would be closer to goal of 140. Is this just relative based on how much effort I put in? I'm super motivated, and was very fit and athletic before weight gain from thyroid cancer/issues/thyroid removal.

How did you guys formulate goals? This is so different for everyone, where do we begin?

Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since you have no thyroid, you'll probably be a slower loser than average. Thus, I suspect your surgeon formulated reasonable goals you can actually attain.

Although I still have a thyroid, I've been hypothyroid for the past 12+ years. I take a daily dose of Levothyroxine for thyroid hormone replacement.

I'm 5'1" and weighed 218 pounds on surgery day. With the exception of the first 2 months, my losses were in the single digit range of 1 to 7 pounds per month.

It took 18 months for me to lose 100 pounds. My weight wanted to settle in the 140s, but I had to incorporate daily running and weightlifting to get the scale to keep moving.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes! I assume I will be slower to lose as well, I suppose. I'm glad you're doing well and trucking along. Thanks for your insight.

Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I still have my thyroid, but i have Hashimotos. My levels are controlled by synthroid. Prior to surgery, my endo tapered me down from 75 to 50. Im at 50 now. My surgeon thinks i will lose 100lbs in 6 months.
Im almost 3 months out and lost 50lbs already. I don't expect anothe 50lbs in the next 3 months bc my weight loss has slowed, but im okay with that. I think if I lose 10 lbs a month im okay.
I started my journey at 287 and am at about 235.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just a quickie here, I was 57YO when I had my RNY. I weighed 249#'s and 232 the day of my surgery. My PA told me that I would be 150#'s by Dec. I had my RNY in July and I lost down to 117#'s. But I did have to have 5Endoscopes with 4 Dialations (kind of like scar tissue) I couldn't hold down anything. But by Jan of 2014 I was at my goal (actually a little below 117) I did gain up to 125#'s. Which I have maintained my weight of 125 to 129#'s for 3 and 1/2 years. BTW I do have to take LEXOTHYROID every day. A small amount of .075. He might have wanted you to set your own goals and he expected that in 18 months you would be at your goal weight. Your kind of lucky because my Dr. never gave me a goal weight only to say that by Dec I would be 150#'s which I blew out of the Water. LOL You just take it easy and don't stress even if it does take you a little longer, IT'S ALL GOOD!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Set your own goals. And go for them with everything you’ve got!!!My Dr was conservative too. I blew past his goal!!!! It definitely has a lot to do with how diligent you are with your diet and how much you’re willing to consistently work out. You can accomplish whatever you want. Best of luck!!!


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doctor only gave me an over all goal that he wants me to be at by 5 years post surgery. So 18-24 months of loss and then maintenance. His goal for me is 170 with 5 pounds of bounce back incorporated. That's the only goal he set for me, the rest of the goals I set myself at his urging.

That being said I'm also Hypothyriod and a slower loser. I lost a lot right out of the gate but by 6 months I started slowing down. Months 9,10 and 11 I literally lost 1 pound each month. I'm currently sitting at 187, so 12 pounds from my over all goal at almost a year out. The way it's going now it will take me another 12 months to reach my goal if my weightloss stays at a pound a month but I'm hoping it will pick back up after this plateau.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Onedayatatime365

      Looking to connect with others who are also on the journey of better health. Post-Op Gastric Sleeve (4/11/24).
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×